Terrific presentation. I stopped at the Michigan Brigade monument in October, 2022, and the monument and opposite side of the road are full of corn-you can’t see any of the tree lines. Thank you for Posting!
I was there in August 2022 and experienced the same thing. Corn seemed to be the crop of choice that year as it was everywhere you went. Obviously, it wasn't the best time of the year to go if you're a battlefield stomper. So now I avoid Gettysburg in the summer. Too hot, too crowded and certainly too expensive.
My great great grandfather was in the Michigan 5th Cavalry Company. His name was Nelson Bartholomew. He was an Ohio boy, who at the time was residing in or around Fulton in Kalamazoo County where he had relatives living. He enlisted with I believe his cousin, who was in another Company of the Cavalry Brigade. Those Wolverines. I am so proud of his service in this battle and other battles.
The Michiganders who were so fortunate were armed with Spencer, not Sharps, repeating rifles. The Sharps was a single-shot breech-loader, which still gave the troops armed with it an advantage over those who had to rely on muzzle-loaders.
Thanks to Ranger Nicholas and NPS for this informative video! Much more coherent than the Chuck Teague video. My ancestor James McCabe served in Co. L of the 3rd PA Cav and I am curious whether he was present for this engagement. Great to hear the 3rd PA mentioned and I am eager to learn more about their involvement in this and other campaigns.
The ranger talks about the intersection of Hanover and Low Dutch Rd. There is a housing development there with streets named Gregg Lane, Stuart Lane and Custer Lane. Many subdivision streets around Gettysburg are named for officers.
we were camped out there at the rummel farm in 2010 and again in 2011... the 17th pennsylvania cavalry and they had just plowed the fields about a week before that weekend and the guy who lived there died a few years a go
They are moving around too much and are too far away. We have time limitations on all of these programs. (although some don't always stick to their times). This was a 60 (now 90) minute program. What viewers don't see is the amount of time it takes to get to each of the stops, the heat (or cold), and sometimes the difficulty of the terrain.
I always start off my programs by telling visitors I don't talk about math or science. 120,000 or even 12,000 rounds would have broken Witcher's back and the horse he rode in on.
Also, he referred to General Richard Ewell as a division commander.... at this battle Ewell had recently been promoted to Lt. General and co.manded the 2nd corps.
I’m giving you a thumbs down because you can’t properly pronounce the word “Cavalry.” As a professional historian you need to understand that. As a historian and theologian “Calvary” is the hill Jesus Christ was crucified on, cavalry is a body of mounted horsemen.
